Chapter 7 - THE FIRE
Smoke poured from the rear hallway of the sheriff’s station.
“MOVE!”
Deputies rushed toward the interview rooms.
Ruiz grabbed Brenda.
Shawn followed.
The lights flickered.
Someone shouted from outside.
“Generator’s down!”
A deputy opened the emergency exit.
Cold air blasted inside.
Shawn looked around.
Too easy.
Fire alarm.
Power failure.
Confusion.
This wasn’t an accident.
“Ruiz!”
The sheriff turned.
“What?”
“Don’t take Brenda outside.”
A gunshot cracked.
The emergency door window shattered.
Everyone dropped.
Brenda screamed.
Ruiz dragged her behind a concrete wall.
Another shot hit the brick.
“Shooter!” a deputy yelled.
Shawn stayed low.
The parking lot was dark.
Snow fell beneath the security lights.
Across the road, something moved between two parked trucks.
Then an engine roared.
A pickup tore away.
Ruiz swore.
“Get the plate!”
Too late.
Brenda shook uncontrollably.
“He knows.”
Ruiz grabbed her shoulders.
“Who?”
“Reed.”
“You’re sure?”
“He said if I ever talked, he’d make it look like I ran.”
Shawn crouched beside her.
“What does Reed want?”
“The land.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Four hundred thousand for land worth twice that doesn’t explain attempted murder.”
Brenda wiped her face.
“There’s something under it.”
Shawn frowned.
“What?”
“Kyle said the land was worth millions to the right buyer.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know.”
Ruiz looked at Shawn.
“Your family property borders the old highway expansion corridor.”
Shawn understood.
Industrial development.
Warehouses.
Distribution centers.
The same business world he lived in.
“If the state extends Route 17…”
Ruiz nodded.
“Your land becomes prime commercial property.”
Shawn laughed without humor.
“So this is about money.”
Brenda looked at him.
“It’s always about money.”
Later that night, Ruiz moved Brenda to a secure county facility.
Shawn returned to the hospital.
His parents were sleeping.
He sat between their rooms, exhausted.
His phone rang.
Blocked number.
He answered.
“You’re persistent,” a familiar voice said.
Shawn sat up.
Malcolm Reed.
“You tried to kill my mother.”
“That’s a dramatic accusation.”
“You tried to kill Brenda tonight.”
“Another dramatic accusation.”
“You forged documents.”
“Careful.”
“Why?”
Silence.
Then Reed chuckled.
“You built a successful company, Shawn. I expected you to understand business.”
“Stealing from old people isn’t business.”
“Your parents were sitting on an asset they didn’t understand.”
“So you locked them underground?”
“I didn’t lock anyone anywhere.”
“Kyle did your dirty work.”
“Kyle makes his own choices.”
Shawn’s grip tightened.
“What do you want?”
“Leave town.”
“No.”
“Take your parents.”
“No.”
“Walk away from the property.”
“No.”
Reed sighed.
“Then you’re forcing me to solve a problem.”
Shawn’s voice became quiet.
“You already made your biggest mistake.”
“What’s that?”
“You let me come home.”
Reed laughed.
Then hung up.
A voice behind Shawn startled him.
Don was standing in the hospital doorway.
“You always did talk too much when you were angry.”
Shawn stood.
“You heard?”
“Enough.”
“Dad, where’s the ledger?”
Don looked down the empty hall.
Then finally said:
“Your mother’s grave.”
Shawn froze.
“Mom is alive.”
Don nodded.
“I know.”
“So what grave?”
May you like
Don looked at him.
“The one we bought twenty years ago.”
